Laura really gets a kick out of teaching

A KICKBOXER fresh from defending her world title has launched Southport’s first women and children-only martial arts school.

LA Kickboxing is branded after the initials of its founder and instructor, 23-year-old Laura Arnold, who beat off a tough challenge to her world female featherweight crown in February.

Laura first took the Amateur Kickboxing Association world title before a 20,000-strong crowd at Birmingham NEC Arena last May – “I couldn’t sleep for a week before it”, she said – and retained it by beating Manchester-based Leza Beezley in the third round of a bout in Leigh, Greater Manchester.

Since the start of 2007 Laura has been fulfilling another of her dreams by holding tatsu-do kaikan (dragon-style) kickboxing classes three times a week, to boys and girls aged five to 15 and women aged 14 upwards.

“This is the only place in the town where ladies can learn without men,” said Laura.

“And the maximum class size is 10 so I give really personalised tuition.”

Laura was herself a young starter in martial arts, taking up karate at age eight and then at 19 moving onto tatsu-do kaikan under the tutelage of David Eckersley at Leigh Martial Arts Studio.

Although she moved to Southport from Leigh two-and-a-half years ago, Laura still travels to her old hometown to train regularly with David, in a style that combines kickboxing with traditional Thai boxing.

“Combining the two skills allows us to use very long kicks and every bit of our limbs as weapons,” the black-belt fighter explained.

Laura described kickboxing to Business Week as the world’s fastest-growing sport – beloved of celebrities including pop singers Gwen Stefani and Geri Halliwell – and listed weight loss, discipline and self-defence among its benefits.

LA Kickboxing classes are suitable for absolute beginners and those who need to increase their fitness before they can embark on a full training programme, said Laura, who also works at the Park Hotel in Birkdale and The Royal Clifton Health Club – where she is currently training to be a gym instructor.

She said: “Kickboxing improves every area of your life and makes you more focused in everything you want to do.

“It makes you realise you can achieve anything. I never thought I’d a make world champion, or own my own business.”

l LA Kickboxing classes are at Victoria Leisure Club on the Promenade. For more information call Laura on 07889341201 or email Lakickboxing@yahoo.co.uk.